Degree Dividend
Sourced from federal dataEvery figure datedNo rankings for sale

South Arkansas College vs Arkansas Northeastern College: which has better ROI?

Public, El Dorado AR · vs · Public, Blytheville AR

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but South Arkansas College comes closer — median earnings $34,521 against a $29,944 total, vs $33,169 at Arkansas Northeastern College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

Share
Head to head
MeasureSouth Arkansas CollegeArkansas Northeastern College
Net price / yr$7,486$5,375
Total net cost$29,944$21,500
Median earnings, 10 yrs$34,521$33,169
Median debt$11,153
Payback
20-year net return-$306,724-$325,320

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, South Arkansas College or Arkansas Northeastern College?

Arkansas Northeastern College, at $5,375 a year after aid versus $7,486 — a gap of $2,111 a year, or $8,444 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do South Arkansas College or Arkansas Northeastern College graduates earn more?

South Arkansas College graduates report a median $34,521 ten years after entry, $1,352 more than the $33,169 at Arkansas Northeastern College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.

Which graduates more of its students?

49% of students finish at Arkansas Northeastern College, against 30% at South Arkansas College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.

South Arkansas College vs Arkansas Northeastern College: frequently asked questions

Is South Arkansas College or Arkansas Northeastern College a better value?
South Arkansas College comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, South Arkansas College or Arkansas Northeastern College?
Arkansas Northeastern College: $5,375/yr net price after aid versus $7,486/yr at South Arkansas College — a difference of $2,111 a year, or about $8,444 over four years.
Do South Arkansas College or Arkansas Northeastern College graduates earn more?
South Arkansas College graduates earn a median $34,521 ten years after entry, versus $33,169 at Arkansas Northeastern College — a $1,352 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.